Timepiece



E. MORF 2,745,242

TIMEPIECE 2 Sheets-Shee l May 15, 195e Filed April 14, 1954 UNEP/TMI' ERNEST mRF BY: Iii l f* @i 'lllll/l/Illlill/11111llIl//l/ll/l/I//llll/llll/llIlIll/IlIlIlll/lII/l//l/Il/l/l/Vl//l May 15, 1956 E MQRF 2,745,242

TIMEPIECE Filed April 14, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllll Il IIII Il Il Il llll Illlll Il Il Il ll Il Illlll IHvEHTOR: ERP/Esv- Mom:

United States Patent Ofice 2,745,242 Patented May 15, 19,56

TIMEPIECE Ernest Morf, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland Application April 14, 1954, Serial No. 423,165

Claims priority, application Switzerland March 10, 1954 12 Claims. (Cl. 58--46) This invention relates to timepieces comprising in particular a power mechanism, a train of wheels, an escapement mechanism and an indicating device.

It is an object of the invention to provide such a timepiece with a power mechanism constituted by a coilspring wound around a flexible wire, said spring being connected at one end to the first wheel of said train and at the other end to a winding mechanism, thereby the torque of said coil-spring driving the train of wheels. It is another object of the invention to locate the train of wheels, the escapement mechanism and the indicating device of this timepiece within a first casing, and the winding mechanism within a second casing, both casings being thus connected by said wire and said coil-spring.

. The latter construction is particularly designed for being mounted in a motor car and it is still another object of the invention to fix the first casing to the instrument-board and the second casing to the tube surrounding the steering wheel shaft of the car.

It is still a further object of the invention to arrange said winding mechanism in order that it may wind up the coil-spring by the displacements of the steering wheel.

Still other objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, one embodiment and a variant of the invention are shown diagrammatically and by way of example.

In the drawings:

Fig. l schematically shows the general arrangement of the parts of the timepiece in a motor car,

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the self-winding mechanism of the timepiece,

Fig.- 3 is a side elevation partly in section from the right of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the part of the timepiece, which is fixed to the instrument-board of the car,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the part represented in Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 shows a detail of Fig. 4 to a greater scale, and

Fig. 7 is a view analogous to that of Fig. 6, showing the variant.

A first casing 1 containing the train of gear-wheels, the escapement mechanism with timing device, and the indicating device of the timepiece is fixed to the instrumentboard 2 of a motor car (Fig. l). A second casing 3 containing the self-winding mechanism is fixed to the tube 4 surrounding the steering wheel shaft of the car. A wheel located in casing 3 and driven by the displacements of the steering wheel, is connected by a flexible wire 6 to the first wheel of the train located in casing 1.

Figs. 2 and 3 show in detail the organs located in casing 3 which is fixed to tube 4 surrounding the steering wheel shaft 7. This casing 3 is provided with a central bore 8 in which a sleeve 9, having a part 10 of greater diameter, can rotate freely. Sleeve 9 is axially held in place within bore 8 by a screw 11 the extremity of which plunges within a groove 12. An annular packing ring 13 of synthetic rubber is located within a large and shallow groove of part 10. The latter extends through an appropriate aperture within tube 4, in order that packing ring 13 comes in contact with a ring 14, also of synthetic rubber, which is engaged around shaft 7.

Casing 3 is fixed to tube 4 by means of a resilient metal strip 15, which presses on the one hand a shoulder 16 of casing 3 against tube 4 and, on the other hand, ring 13 against ring 14. The position of this casing 3 relative to 0 tube 4 is secured by two steady pins 17Aof the casing,

which are engaged within corresponding bores of tube 4.

A ratchet wheel 18 which is freely rotatably mounted within sleeve 9 by means of a pipe 19 around which a ring 20 of anti-frictional material is fixed by means of a pin 21. Ring 20 is located within a counter-sink of part 10 of sleeve 9 in which it is compres-sed axially and elastically by means of a circular plate 22 xed to part 10 by three screws 23 staggered at 120 from one another, said screws being thereby under the action of springs 24. Screws 23 allow adjusting the driving couple of the clutch device constituted by ring 20 located between sleeve 9 and ratchet wheel 18.

A sleeve 25 integral with wheel 18 is provided with a truncated conical part at its end in order to more easily engage coil-spring 26 around said sleeve.

Coil-spring 26 constitutes the power mechanism of the timepiece and the diameter of its windings, when it is not bent, is somewhat inferior to the external diameter of Sleeve 25 in order that spring 26 firmly engages sleeve 25 and always rotates therewith, without requiring further fixing means between these two elements.

A pawl 5t, pivoted on part 10, cooperates with ratchet wheel 18 under the action of a spring 51, in order to prevent said wheel from rotating clockwise in Fig. 3.

A piece 52 having two diametrically opposite ears 53 is fixed to the end of wire 6 within sleeve 9. Casing 3 is closed at its back by a plate 54 screwed onto this casing and carrying a pin 55 intended for cooperating with ears S3 in a manner which will be described hereinafter. This casing 3 is closed on its front by a cover 56 engaged with snap fit on to the casing. An extremity of a protector tube 27 or" plastic is engaged on a truncated conical sleeve 57 fixed to cover 56. Tube 27 is kept on sleeve 57 by means of a metal ring 58.

The above described automatic winding mechanism operates as follows:

When the steering wheel of the vehicle moves in any direction, sleeve 9 follows all its movements. Pawl 50 prevents, however, wheel 18 from rotating clockwise in Fig. 3. ln this case ring 2l) remains at rest with wheel 18; whereas part 10 of sleeve 9 as well as plate 22 slide with friction around this ring 20. The tension of springs 24 does not, indeed, develop such frictional forces between sleeve 9 and ring 20 which would overbalance the frictional forces between the two rings 13 and 14.

If shaft 7 now rotates in the other direction, pawl 50 jumps over the teeth of ratchet wheel 18 which bends spring 26 in a manner described hereinafter.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show in detail the organs of the timepiece located in casing 1 fixed to the instrument-board 2 (Fig. 1) of the motor car. These organs comprise the ordinary wheels of the train, i. e. first an intermediate wheel 30 as commonly provided in 8-day watches. This wheel 30 is fixed on a shaft 31 formed with a threaded portion 32 for receiving sleeve 33 fixed to the wire 6 (Fig. 6).

Like sleeve 25, this sleeve 33 is also provided with a truncated conical part in order to render more easy engaging the other end of coil spring 26 around this sleeve. A truncated conical sleeve 59 is finally fixed to casing 1 in order to receive the other end of tube 27 which is secured onto this sleeve by means of a ring 60.

The wheel meshes with a pinion 34 of the second or center Wheel driving in turn a third wheel 36, a fourth wheel 37 and an escapement wheel 3S. The latter as usual drives the escapement of the timepiece, constituted by a balance wheel 39 with a hair spring 40, by means of a lever which is not shown. The intermediate, second, third and fourth wheels constituting the train of gear wheels of the timepiece, are pivoted in a plate 41, fixed to the casing 1, and a bridge 42 fixed to the plate 41 by means of pillars 43. A pinion 44 is pressed on to the axle of wheel 3S and is located between the baseplate 41 and the dial 45. This pinion as usual drives a minute setting wheel 46 and an hour wheel 47. The minute-hand 48 and the hour hand 49 are iixed on the axle of the center wheel 35 and on the cannon of hour-wheel 47, respectively. The setting of the hands is as usual ensured by a knurled button 97.

As it has already been indicated hereabove, coil-spring 26 constitutes the power mechanism of the timepiece and it is more particularly the torque of this spring which drives the timepiece. The end of this spring tixed to sleeve 33 rotates rather slowly with this wheel, whereas its other extremity may rotate speedily with wheel 18. It follows that spring 26 winds itself more and more with the movements of the steering wheel. These movements thus cause an increase of the number of windings of spring 26 while the diameter of these windings decreases.

It will be observed that the winding direction of spring 26 must be so chosen that the rotation of wheel 18 winds it up. In that case the two extremities of said spring, which are engaged on sleeves 25 and 33 Will tend to grip themselves stronger and stronger around said sleeves while winding up spring 26.

On the other hand the diameter of the windings of spring 26, when unwound, must be chosen suiciently large with respect to that of wire 6, in order that this spring 26, even bent and coiled to its maximum does not tighten on to said wire.

Because spring 26 has a variable length according to its winding state, whereas wire 6 is practically inextensible, the length of the part of said wire comprised between both of said sleeves must be able to vary.

For this purpose the end of wire 6 to the side of the winding mechanism, may move freely within sleeve 9 between two extreme positions determined by the bottom 54 and the sleeve 19 against which piece 52 abuts.

It is to be noted that the wire 6, in elongating, takes on a curved or wavy path between the two xed points of the clock casing 1 and the drive casing 3, i. e. between sleeves 33 and 25, the sheath 27 enclosing the wire 6 with suflicient spacing around the wire to permit this curving of the path of the coil-wire 6 within it. Once the member 52 engages the sleeve 19, which is axially fixed, it is impossible to tension the spring 26 further, because a further tensioning of the spring necessitates an increase in the length thereof and such an increase in length must be followed by an increase in the portion of the wire 6 which is located Within the spring 26 and a decrease in the length of the portion of the wire 6 which extends beyond the spring 26 and through the sleeves 25 and 19. However, it is evident that engagement of member 52 with sleeve 19 prevents further shortening of the portion of cable 6 extending through sleeves 25 and 19, and it is thus evident that the engagement of elements 52 and 19 constitutes a stop means. The sheath 27, which houses the wire 6 and spring 26 freely permits the curvature of wire 6 and spring 26 to take place because of the above mentioned greater diameter of the sheath 27. Of course spring 26 and wire 6 do not form a constant curvature when spring 26 is fully tensioned. The spring 26 and the wire core 6 form a sinuous curve in the interior of the sheath 27.

Thus spring 26 is wound to its minimum when piece S2 abuts against plate 54. Ears 53 and pin 55 have been provided in order to determine this extreme position angularly very well. These elements prevent, indeed, Wire 6 (which rotates with wheel 30) from any further rotation as soon as one of the ears 53 engages pin 55.

When spring 26 is coiled to its maximum, piece 52 abuts against sleeve 19. The wire 6 can indeed no longer retire itself within coil-spring 26 which thus cannot be wound any more; clutch 20 is slipping and wheel 18 is at rest until the timepiece has been running long enough in order to slacken spring 26.

It will be observed that clutch 20 does not require to be adjusted very accurately by means of screws 23, because the resistance against rotation of wheel 18 fnaterially increases all of a sudden, as soon as piece 52 abuts against sleeve 19.

The length of Wire 6 relative to that of spring 26 in its unwound state, is so chosen that spring 26 is already wound somewhat when piece 52 abuts against plate 54.

The maximum and the minimum of the winding tension of said spring are preferably so chosen that the latter is almost equal to 60% of the former. Thus the tension decrease of spring 26, which has a linear characteristic, does not have too great an influence on the running of the watch.

Spring 26 need not necessarily extend from one casing to the other particularly in case both casings are set a great distance apart from one another.

In such a case it is preferable to remove the extremity of spring 26 from casing 1 as represented in Fig. 7.

In this variant wire 6 is still xed to a sleeve 33a screwed onto a threaded portion 32 of shaft 31 of the intermediate wheel 30; but the end of this spring 26 is engaged around a sleeve 33b fixed to the wire 6 at the desired place.

This spring 26 works like that which has been described hereabove, since sleeves 33 and 33]; are both integral with wire 6.

It will be observed that a coil-spring of the type described could operate as power mechanism of quite another timepiece and for quite other purposes than that of mounting a self-winding watch in a motor car.

In particular this device can also be used, in any case where winding a timepiece should be ensured from a certain distance away, tube 27 and its fixing means thereby being provided and adapted in order to ensure a satisfactory protection of wire 6 and coil-spring 26.

Eventually such a power spring could also be located within the casing containing the train of wheels, the escapement mechanism and the indicating device of the timepiece.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention herewith shown and described are to be taken as examples of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

l claim:

l. In a timepiece, in combination, support means; :i gear train carried by said support means and including an input member turnably carried by said support means for receiving energy to be transmitted through said gear train to elements of the timepiece; winding means located distant from said support means and including a turnable output member; an elongated coil spring forming a spring motor for the timepiece; connecting means connecting one end of said coil spring to said input member and the other end of said coil spring to said output member for storing in said coil spring energy to be transmitted to said input member upon turning of said output member in one direction; a core located within said coil spring to sustain the same during tensioning thereof; and stop means operatively connected to said winding means for preventing the latter from tensioning said coil spring beyond a given upper limit and for preventing the coil amaai@ spring from unwinding to a tension below a given lower limit.

2. In a timepiece, in combination, support means; a gear train carried by said support means and including an input member turnably carried by said support means for receiving energy to be transmitted through said gear train to elements of the timepiece; winding means located distant from said support means and including a turnable output member; an elongated coil spring forming a spring motor for the timepiece; connecting means connecting one end of said coil spring to said input member and the other end of said coil spring to said output member for storing in said coil spring energy to be transmitted to said input member upon turning of said output member in one direction; a core located within said coil spring to sustain the same during tensioning thereof, said core being in the form of a llexible cable having a free end and having opposite said free end an end xed to said input member; and stop means operatively connected to said winding means for preventing the latter from tensioning said coil spring beyond a given upper limit and for preventing the coil spring from unwinding to a tension below a given lower limit.

3. In a timepiece, in combination, support means; a gear train carried by said support means and including an input member turnably carried by said support means for receiving energy to be transmitted through said gear train to elements of the timepiece, said input member having a tubular free end portion; winding means located distant from said support means and including a turnable output member, the latter also having a tubular free end portion; an elongated coil spring having one end portion closely surrounding and gripping said tubular free end portion of said input member and an opposite end portion closely surrounding and gripping said tubular free end portion of said output member so that turning of the latter in one direction will increase the length and the number of coils of said coil spring to store in the latter energy to be transmitted to said input member upon turning of said output member in one direction; a core located within said coil spring to sustain the same during tensioning thereof, said core being in the form of a flexible cable having a free end and having opposite said free end an end fixed to said input member; and stop means operatively connected to said Winding means for limiting the number of coils added to said coil spring by said winding means so as not to tension the latter beyond a given upper limit and for maintaining a minimum number of coils in said coil spring to prevent the latter from unwinding to a tension below a given lower limit.

4. In a timepiece, in combination, support means; a gear train carried by said support means and including an lnput member turnably carried by said support means for receiving energy to be transmitted through said gear train to elements of the timepiece; winding means located distant from said support means and including a turnable output member; an elongated coil spring connected at one end to said output member and extending from the latter toward said input member; an elongated flexible core extending along the interior of said coil spring and beyond the latter to said input member, said core being fixed to said input member and having a free end distant from said input member; a sleeve carried by and surrounding said core, said sleeve being iixed to the end of said coil spring distant from said output member and being fixed to said core so that said winding means, upon turning of said output member thereof in one direction, will store in said coil spring energy to be transmitted through said core to said input member to drive said gear train, whereby said coil spring acts as a spring motor for the timepiece; and stop means operatively connected to said winding means for preventing the latter from tensioning said coil spring beyond a given upper limit and for preventing the coil spring from unwinding to a tension below a given lower limit.

5. In a timepiece, in combination, support means; a gear train carried by said support means and including an input member turnably carried by said support means for receiving energy to be transmitted through said gear train to the elements of the timepiece; winding means located distant from said support means and including a tubular turnable output member having open ends, said winding means having a stationary stop member fixed thereto and spaced from said output member and a first projection fixed to said stop member and extending toward said tubular output member; an elongated coil spring forming a spring motor for the timepiece and xed at one end to said tubular output member to be turned thereby; connecting means connecting the other end of said coil spring to said input member so that upon turning of said output member in one direction said coil spring will store energy to be transmitted through said input member to said gear train; an elongated exible core extending along the interior of said coil spring and freely through said tubular output member toward said stop member, said core having a free end which engages said stop member to provide a lower limit in the tension of said coil spring and said core member having a second projection turnable with said core member along a path intersecting said first projection when said free end of said core member is located next to said stop member so that said second projection engages said first projection to prevent turning of said core member; and stop means carried by said winding means for providing a maximum limit on the tension of said coil spring.

6. In a timepiece, in combination, support means; a gear train carried by said support means and including au input member turnably carried by said support means for receiving energy to be transmitted through said gear train to elements of the timepiece; winding means located distant from said support means and including a turnable output member; an elongated coil spring forming a spring motor for the timepiece; connecting means connecting one end of said coil spring to said input member and the other end of said coil spring to said output member for storing invsaid coil spring energy to be transmitted to said input member upon turning of said output member in one direction; a core located Within said coil spring to sustain the same during tensioning thereof, said core being in the form of a flexible cable having a free end and having opposite said free end an end fixed to said input member; and stop means operatively connected to said winding means for preventing the latter from tensioning said coil spring beyond a given upper limit and for preventing the coil spring from unwinding to a tension below a given lower limit, said stop means including a projection adjacent said free end of said cable xed to the latter and a part of said winding means located in the path of movement of said projection as the length of said coil spring increases so that said projection engages said part to prevent further increase in the length of said coil spring and thereby prevent tensioning of said coil spring beyond said upper limit.

7. In a timepiece for a vehicle, in combination, support means carried by a stationary part of the vehicle; a gear train carried by said support means and including an input member turnably carried by said support means for receiving energy to be transmitted through said gear train to elements of the timepiece; winding means located distant from said support means and including a turnable output member, said winding means operatively engaging a movable vehicle part to be driven thereby; an elongated coil spring forming a spring motor for the timepiece; connecting means connecting one end of said coil spring to said input member and the other end of said coil spring to said output member for storing in said coil spring energy to be transmitted to said input member upon turning of said output member in one direction; a core located within said coil spring to sustain the same during tensioning thereof; and stop means operatively connected to said winding means for preventing the latter from tensioning said coil spring beyond a given upper limit and for preventing the coil spring from unwinding to a tension below a given lower limit.

S. In a timepiece for a vehicle, in combination, support means carried by an instrument panel of the vehicle and housing an indicator and escapement of the timepiece; a gear train carried by said support means and including an input member turnably carried by said support means for receiving energy to be transmitted through said gear train to elements of the timepiece; winding means located distant from said support means and including a turnable output member, said winding means being fixed to a tube which surrounds a steering column of the vehicle and being operatively connected to the steering column to be driven upon turning of the steering column; an elongated coil spring forming a spring motor for the timepiece; connecting means connecting one end of said coil spring to said input member and the other end of said coii spring to said output member for storing in said coil spring energy to be transmitted to said input member upon turning of said output member in one direction; a core located within said coil spring to sustain the same during tensioning thereof; and stop means operatively connected to said winding means for preventing the latter from tensioning said coil spring beyond a given upper limit and for preventing the coil spring from unwinding to a tension below a given lower limit.

9. ln a timepiece tor a vehicle, in combination, support means carried by an instrument panel of the vehicle and housing an indicator and escapement of the timepiece; a gear train carried by said support means and including an input member turnably carried by said support means for receiving energy to be transmitted through said gear train to elements of the timepiece; winding means located distant from said support means and including a turnable output member, said Winding means being Xed to a tube which surrounds the steering column of the vehicle and including a turnable driving wheel frictionally engaging the steering column to be turned when the latter turns; an elongated coil spring forming a spring motor for the timepiece; connecting means connecting one end of said coil spring to said input member and the other end of said coil spring to said output member for storing in said coil spring energy to be transmitted to said input member upon turning of said output member in one direction; a core located within said coil spring to sustain the same during tensioning thereof; and stop means operatively connected to said winding means for preventing the latter from tensioning said coil spring beyond a given upper limit and for preventing the coil spring from unwinding to a tension below a given lower limit.

lO. In a timepiece for a vehicle, in combination, support means carried by an instrument panel of the vehicle and housing an indicator and escapement of the timepiece; a gear train carried by said support means and including an input member turnably carried by said support means for receiving energy to be transmitted through said gear train to elements of the timepiece; winding means located distant from said support means and including a turnable output member, said winding means being fixed to a tube which surrounds the steering column of the vehicle and including a turnable driving wheel frictionally engaging the steering column to be turned when the latter turns and a slip clutch operatively connected to said driving wheel and said output member for transmitting motion from said driving wheel to said output member; an elongated coil spring forming a spring motor for the timepiece; connecting means connecting one end of said coil spring to said input member and the other end of said coil spring to said output member for storing in said coil 'spring energy to be transmitted to said input member upon turning of said output member in one direction; a core located within said coil spring to sustain the same during tensioning thereof; and stop means operatively connected to said winding means for preventing the latter from tensioning said coil spring beyond a given upper limit and for preventing the coil spring from unwinding to a tension below a given lower limit.

1l. ln a timepiece for a vehicle, in combination, support means carried by an instrument panel of the vehicle and housing an indicator and escapement of the timepiece; a gear train carried by said support means and including an input member turnably carried by said support means for receiving energy to be transmitted through said gear train to elements of the timepiece; winding means located distant from said support means and including a turnable output member, said winding means being fixed to a tube which surrounds the steering column of the vehicle and including a turnable driving Wheel frictionally engaging the steering column to be turned when the latter turns, a slip clutch operatively connected to said driving wheel and said output member for transmitting motion from said driving wheel to said output member, and an adjustable spring means operatively connected to said slip clutch for adjusting the friction thereof; an elongated coil spring forming a spring motor for the timepiece; connecting means connecting one end of said coil spring to said input member and the other end of said coil spring to said output member for storing in said coil spring energy to be transmitted to said input member upon turning of said output member in one direction; a core located within said coil spring to sustain the same during tensioning thereof; and stop means operatively connected to said winding means for preventing the latter from tensioning said coil spring beyond a given upper limit and for preventing the coil spring from unwinding to a tension below a given lower limit.

12. In a timepiece, in combination, winding means including a turnable output member; a spring motor in the form of an elongated coil spring lixed at one end to said output member; gear means distant from said winding means and including a turnable input member; means connecting the other end of said coil spring to said input member to transmit tothe latter energy stored in said coil spring by said output member; a eXible core longer than said coil spring extending along the interior thereof and having an elongated free end portion extending beyond one end of said coil spring to move into the latter when the length of said coil spring increases during tensioning thereof and to move out of said coil spring when the length of the latter decreases during a reduction in the tension thereof; and limiting means cooperating with said free end of said core to limit the length of the path of movement thereof so as to provide upper and lower limits on the tension of said coil spring.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 973,854 Busenbenz Oct. 25, 1910 1,127,134 Wehinger Feb. 2, 1915 1,946,890 Whitehead Feb. 13, 1934 1,969,241 Sundblad Aug. 7, 1934 2,176,278 Shaker Oct. 17, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 174,761 Germany Sept. 22, 1906 

